Article holding and ejecting fixture



Nov. 22, 1949 s, v, sMlTH v 2,488,609

ARTICLE HOLDING AND 'JECTING FIXTURE Filed Aug. 2o, 1948 5 sheets-sheet1 v er l I ,wrom/fr Nov. 22, 1949 s. v. SMITH ARTICLE HOLDING ANDEJECTING FIX'I-URE 5 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 20, 1948 /N VEN raf? M.S'M/ Th' A 7' TORNEV yNov'. 22, 1949 s, v, SMITH 2,488,609

ARTICLE HOLDING AND EJECTING FIXTURE Filed Aug. a9, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet3 l l a v f IIIIIII/Lf/l'e l' Inl'u Nov. 22, 1949 s. v. SMITH ARTICLEiHOLDING AND EJECTING FIXTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 20, 1948 l/ IIAn mm N/ a fM f Ws HN /M S.

f ARTICLE HOLDING AND EJECTING FIXTURE /QSJW v 2]/ 22,0

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46 2/l 09 ya K4 27 /4 A Tram/Ey Patented Nov. 22, 1949 2,488,609 ARTICLEHOLDING AND EJECTING FIXTURE Scott V. Smith, Danville, Ill., assignor,by mesne assignments. to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, NewYork, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 2o, 194s,serial No. 45,387

This invention relates to an article holding and ejecting fixture andmore particularly to a fixture usedin connection with a turret typeelectrical testing machine for holding the article in engagement withelectrical contact members during the electrical testing of the articleand for ejecting the article upon completion of the electrcal testingthereof.

An object of the present invention is to provide an effective iixturefor holding and ejecting articles.

In one embodiment of the invention, the iixture as used with a rotaryturret type machine for electrically testing articles, forms aholder forreceiving the article and guiding it for movement in one direction andthe fixture has a springpressed plunger for ejecting the article-fromthe holder, thev plunger being movable by the article into a stressed oroperative position and held there by a pivoted latch engaging thelarticle and operable to release the article andcause its election.Electrical contact springs mounted on the fixture and actuated by thereciprocation'of the ejection plunger are moved toward each other intoengagement with terminals on the article when the article is moved intothe holder, and the contact springs are spread apart by the plunger whenthe article is ejected from the holder.V Other objects and advantageswill be apparent by reference to the following description and theaccompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof inwhich Fig. l is a plan view of a machine for electrically testingarticles and employing the lholding and ejecting xtures forming thesubject matter of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a Vertical longitudinal sectional View through the machinetaken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are views in perspective of the end construction ofarticles to be tested in this machine;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the loading portion of the machine;

Fig. 6 is a detailed sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5 andshowing a movablev cam and the solenoid for actuating it; l

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through a portion of themachine and the xture taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 5 and showing anarticle on the loading table in position to Abe moved into the xture; fY

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig.7. showing the article 9 Claims. (Cl. 209-81) 2 Y moved into an initialor inoperative position in said fixture and into engagement with theejection plunger of the xture; 1

Fig. 9 is a. fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 9-9of Fig. 5 showing the pusher mechanism and an article moved by thepusher into its operative position in engagement with Y electricalcontact springs on the xture;

y Fig, 10 is a fragmentary plan sectional view of the drive for thepusher mechanism taken on the line |0-I0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. l1 is a detailed vertical longitudinal sectional view through thevertically adjustable portion of the fixture showing the arrangement ofthe t-wo sets of contact springs and ejector members therein and anarticle in operative position relative to the'lower set of contacts andejector;

Fig. 12 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the xture takenon'the line I2-I2 of Fig. 11; Y Figs. 13 and 14 are plan sectional viewsthrough the xture taken on the lines |3-l 3 and |4`|4, respectively,showing' a different type of article in operative position in eachfigure; and

Fig. 15 is an enlarged detailed view, partly in section, of one type ofejecting plunger.

The holding and ejecting xture, constituting the present invention, isshown in connection with a machine for electrically testing condensersornetworks, which machine is disclosed and claimed in my co-pendingapplications, Serial Nos. 45,386, 45,385, filed August 20, 1948. Thismachine'is designed to test various electrical characteristics ofnetworks or condensers which are enclosed in rectangular metalcontainers or cans 25 (Figs. 3 and 4), each of which is closed at itsopen end by a wall or closureV 26 of insulating material apertured toaccommodate the terminals 2l and, in some cases, the studs 28 extendingtherethrough. The metal containers 25 are of a predetermined uniformlength and width and their thickness varies according to the number ofcondensers and/or networks contained therein. The number of terminalsvaries, ranging from 2 to 4, and the arrangement thereof likewisevaries, depending upon the numb-er of condensers or net.. works in thecontainer. For purposes of convenience of description, the condenser andnetwork unit and container therefor will hereinafter be referred to asan article 29.

Generally, the apparatus comprises a continually rotating turret ortable 35 (Figs. 1 and 2) having a plurality of article holders 36 forreceiving the articles 29 and carrying them through a predeterminedcircular path of less than one com.-

in response to the energization of the solenoids 56 associatedtherewith. Thus, the cams 52, which extend radially outwardly from thecam surface |25, act, when in operative position, to actuate the camfollower H6 and move the latch 50 to its open position to permit theejection of the article from the holder 38. When the solenoid 56 isenergized, it retracts the cam 52 to its inoperative position to renderit ineffective to actuate the latches 50 as explained hereinbefore.

The pusher mechanism 48 (Figs. l, 5, 9 and 10) for pushing the articlesradially inwardly into their operative position in engagement with thecontact members 46 and against the yielding pressure of the ejector 39comprises a plurality of spaced pusher elements or rollers |29 rotatablymounted on a disc |30 fixed to the upper end of a shaft |3|, which isrotatably journalled in a bearing member |32. The bearing |32 is formedin a mounting plate |33, which is mounted for sliding movement on asupporting plate |34 secured to a pair of spaced supporting brackets |35extending from and fastened to the stationary support |2|. The plate |33is guided for limited radial movement by a pair of shouldered studs |31positioned in radially extending guide slots |38 in the supporting plate|34. A sprocket |42, pinned to the shaft |3|, is connected by a sprocketchain |43 to a sprocket |44, which, in turn, is keyed to a shaft `|45rotatably mounted in a bearing |46 formed on the supporting plate |34. Adisc |41, keyed to the upper end of the shaft |45, has a plurality ofequally spaced radially disposed slots |48, which are engageable bydrive pins |49 extending downwardly in spaced relation to each otherfrom the underneath surface of the annular plate of the rotary table 35.Thus, the pins |49, moving with the rotatable table 35, engage in theslots |48 of the disc |41 and impart rotation thereto which, in turn,through the chain drive, imparts rotation to the disc |30 and pusherrollers |29. 'I'he pusher elements or rollers |29, being spacedequiangularly about and equidistant from the axis of the rota tion ofthe disc |30, engage successive Varticles and move them radiallyinwardly on the rotatable table from their outer or inoperative positionto their inner or operative position against the yielding pressure ofthe ejecting members 39 yto effect the engagement of the terminals 21with the electrical contact members 46.

The fixtures 4| (Figs. 5, '1, 8, 9 and 11 to 15), in which the contactmembers 46 and the ejector members 39 are mounted, comprise elongatedtapering units nested together in annular form and secured to an annulardisc or supporting plate |60 by screws |6| (Fig. 5) fltting in alignedVertical grooves in the diverging side walls of the adjacent fixtureunits. Each fixture 4| is associated and radially aligned with anarticle holder 36 and contains two sets of contact members 46 andejector members 39 arranged at two levels, one set in superposedrelation to the other. One set of contacts 46 and ejector 39, as, forexample, the upper one, is adapted'to accommodate articles having studs28, as disclosed in Fig. 3, and the otherV or lower set of contacts andejector is adapted to be used for testing articles having endconstructions as disclosed in Fig. 4.

The supporting plate |60 and the fixtures 4| are vertically adjustableto align horizontally the upper or lower sets of contacts and ejectorswith the holders 38 and alsoto adjust the position of theV contacts andtheejectors of each set ver-` tically relative to the holders when usedin testing articles of different thicknesses. A plurality ofrods |63,fixed at one end to the plate |60, extend downwardly through aperturesinthe web or disc portion 12 of the turret 35 and are secured at theirlower ends to an annular plate |64, the plate |64 resting on ananti-friction thrust bearing |66 slidably mounted for vertical movementon the sleeve 14 and supported by a plurality of thrust pins |61. Thepins|61 extend upwardly from an internally threaded nut |68 mounted inthreaded engagement with an externally threaded sleeve |10, which, Yinturn, is mounted for rotation on the stationary shaft 15 and is actuatedthrough a worm drive under control of an operating handle |15. Thus, byturning the handle |15, the fixtures 44 may be adjusted vertically toalign either set of contacts 46 and ejectors 41 horizontally relative tothe articles 29 in the holders.

Each xture 4| comprises a housing formed in' three sections secured insuperposed rel-ation by screws |83 and having upper intermediate andlower horizontal wall portions |84|85 and |86, respectively, and sidewalls |88-|88. In each of. the upper and lower compartments formed bythe housing is positioned one set of contacts and ejector members.Guideways or slots |90 are formed 'in theside walls |88 for supportingthe ejector members 39 for horizontal reciprocable movement and recessesV| 9| are provided inthe fixture for receiving a plurality of blocks ofinsulation |93 to form a wall for supporting the contact springs 46. Theejecting plungers 39 are U-shaped and, as previously described, arenormally urged radially outwardly by compression springs 40 interposedbetween the plunger` 39 and the wall |93 and movement outwardly of theejector is limited by pins |96 engageable with the ends of slots |91|91formed in the side walls |88 of the xture. The parallel spaced legportions |99 of the U-shapedejector plunger 39 are provided at theirouter ends with seats 200 adapted to be engaged by portions ofthearticle 29.

In the lower set of ejectors (Fig. 4), the seats 200 are formed on theouter ends of the leg portions |99 and have angularly disposed guidesurfaces 20| extending outwardly therefrom and are adapted to be engagedby the end portion of the article which is positioned laterally on theseats by the inclined portions 20|. In the upper set of ejectors 39(Figs. 13 and l5), the seats 200, formed by the notches in the legportions' |99, are spaced from the ends of the plunger and are adaptedtoreceive the studs 28 projecting from the article 29 of the type ofconstruction shown in Fig. 3. The outer ends of the leg portions |99 areprovided with inwardly 'directed inclined surfaces 202, which aid inguiding the studs 28 of the article into position on the seats 200.

To insure a positive contact between each of the studs 28 of thearticleand the plunger 39, in order to electrically ground each stud tothe machine, one of the seats of the plungeris provided with a mechanismto compensate for a slight difference in length between the studs 28 ofthe article. The'shoulder 203, forming one of the seats, is positioned agreater distance from the end of the ejector plunger 39 than the otherseat anda movable abutment member, in the form of a ball 204, is mountedin a bore 205 in the leg |99 of the plunger and normally projects beyondthe shoulder 203. The abutment member 204, which is retained in the bore205 by the convergingside jwalls at thev end of thebore, is

urged outwardly by spring "30.5, which is :beldcempsessed by a :ringr2-0l :retained in :the here 2.6.5 by therein 196,- -rvhensnartilehavingStuds 2.3 .O f slightly diiferent `lengths yis moved into .engagementwith .the ,Seats of the plunger 39, one stud g8 will .abut-theregularSeat 289 and the Lother :stud 2.8., ,whether theshort .0r long eee ofthe ytwo, Y.Will .be engaged lby the `Seli-adjusting abutment member10.4 associated with V the other seat.

. yThecam yor contact spreader member 4,1 is fastened to theintermediate portion `of l,the J- shaped ejector :39. by ,a screw 269,the end of which projects :beyond the ejector, and servesas a guide pin-for the .compression spring 40. The contact -mernbers..fi5, our Iinnumber for each set, are ,in the form of 4elongated `flat spring membersdisposed .on opposite sides vof the plunger '39 and have :inwardly.directed end portions 210 .engageable with the terminals 2l of thearticle 29. Rigidly .supported at .one lend in the block |93, the.contact members liS-areiiexed for movement toward each .othertransversely to fthe direction of movement of lthe .ejector member 132and the article r29. Intermediate their ends, .the contact members '46are provided with inclined voiset or cam portions `2Il-engageable withthe inclined portions of the cam members Vlll, and vwhich portions 2Hvcooperate with the `cam il to move the contacts 48 in a substantiallyvertical direction Yaway-from each other to `a spread or open position,-in -response to the horizontal movement of the ejector outwardly to itsnormal extended position.

1n response -to the inward movement of the ejector 39, the cam memberlll' will disengage itself `fromthe contacts -ll and permit the contactsto move toward each other to a closed position in engagement with theterminals 27 on the article. Thus, when an article `29 positioned in'the holder '36 o n the turret-35 is moved horizontally from aninoperative position to an perative position Yby Vthe pusher mechanism48, it moves the ejector plunger 39 radially inwardly from its normalextended position to its operative position and Acauses the contactsprings l5 to move towards each other into `engagement with theterminals 2l", which are subsequently sequentially electricallyYconnected. through Athe contactsto the ,various testing circuits, Theinward movement of the ejector 39 also further compresses the.compression spring ,40 vso that, upon `dis.engagement pf ,the latchifrom the article VV251, the ejector 39 `is moved outwardly with a suddener ,Snap action toeiect the article from the holder 3e and the turret 35Aand simultaneously therewithrmove lthe contact springs 4S to theirYopen position.

correspondingly positioned spring ycontacts in each pair of superposedsets of contacts 16 are electrically connected together by a conductorv214 and by conductors'2 l5 they are connected to brushes 216 mounted ina cylindrical shoulder holder-2H which, in turn, is secured lto therotary sleeve `'Hl for rotation therewith. The brushes 246 are adaptedto engage sequentially a plurality of stationary commutatorsegments 2|9suitably supported and connected by conductors 223 to-various-testingcircuits (not shown) for applying various electrical Atests tothe-articles.

As they are carried-along by the turret 35, the articles 29 pass througha plurality of testing stations and are connected successively and forpredetermined periods of time to the various testing apparatus andaresubjected `to the various electrical tests to determine whether thevalues 4of certain electrical characteristics of the article fall withinor outside of an acceptable range. In each test station, at a pointwhere the article nears the end Aof its movement therein, there islocated one of the cams 52 and a solenoid 56, which is electricallyconnected into the testing circuit associated with the station. 15jthevalue of the .electrical characteristic of the article being testedfalls within the set minimum-maximum range of the test circuit applyingthe test, the solenoid 56 is energized to withdraw the cam 52 and renderit inoperative and lthe latch 5B holding the article in its opera.- tiveposition in the holder is not actuated at this point to release thearticle. If the value of the characteristic of the article being testedfalls below the minimum or above the maximum range of the setting of thetesting apparatus testing the article, kthe solenoid 56 remainsdeenergized and the cam 452 remains in its normal operative position andengages the cam follower H6 to actuate the latch 5) and disengage itfrom the article, `thus releasing the article and causing its ejectionfrom the holder 36. Tubular chutes 54, rranged to receive the articlesejected at the various test stations, guide the articles 25 intosuitable receptacles or bins (not shown). The rejected or imperfectarticles are thus sorted into groups according to their defects and thegood or acceptable articles are carried by the turret 35 to theunloadingr station to, where, as previously mentioned, the stationarycam 52 actuates the latches to release the articles 29, which arethereby ejected onto the rotating turn table 6G.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simplyillustrative of the application of the principles of the invention.Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled -inthe art which will embody the principles of the invention and iallwithin the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A fixture for holding articles during the electrical testing thereofcomprising a supporting means, a holder on said supporting means forsupporting an article to be tested and for guiding said article forreciprocable movement, an ejector slidably mounted on said supportingmeans for movement in a direction parallel to the reciprocable movementof said article, contact members mounted on said supporting means onopposite sides of said ejector and stressed. for movement to a closedposition and engageable in said closed position with terminals on saidarticle, cam elements on said ejector cngageaole with said contactmembers, spring means for stressing said ejector in one direction toeject an article from said holder and to cause the camming of saidcontact members to open position, said ejector being movable in theopposite direction bythe movement of said article to a predeterminedoperative position to eiect a movement of the contact members to aclosed position in .engagement with the terminals n said article, alatch member for holding said article in operative position, and meansfor releasing said latch from said article to cause the ejection ci saidarticle from said holder.

2. A fixture for holding articles e 'n electrical testing thereofcomprising .-1 '5t means, a holder on said supporting means supportingan article to be tested and for guiding said article .forreciprocable,movementlan ejector lill slidably incuntedl on saidsupporting means for movement in a direction parallel to thereciprocable movement of said article, contact members mounted on saidsupporting means on opposite sides of said ejector and stressed formovement to a closed position and engageable in said closed positionwith terminals onsaid article, cooperating cam elements on said ejectorand 4said contact members, spring means for stressing said ejector inone direction to eject an articlefrom said holder and to cause thecamming of said contact members to open position,V said ejector beingmovable in the opposite direction'jbyVv the movement of said article toa predetermined operative position to effect a movement of the contactmembers to a closed position in yengagement with the terminals onsaid-article, a pivoted latch member engageable with the endl of saidarticle for holding said article in its operativel position, camfollower means operable to actuate saidl latch member, a cam foractuating said cam' follower means, and means for effecting relativemovement between said supporting means and said cam.

3. A fixture for holding articles during the electrical testing thereofcomprising afpair Vof supporting members, a holder on one of saidsupporting members for supporting articles of different heights to betested and for guiding said articles for reciprocable movement, Contactmembers mounted on ,the` other vof said supporting members biased VVformovement to a closedposition and engageable in said closed position withterminals on said articles, an ejector plunger slidably mounted on theother of said supporting members for movement in a direction parallel tothe reciprocable movement of said articles, cooperating cam elements onsaid ejector and said contact members, spring means for stressing saidejector in one direction to eject an article from said holder and tocause the camming of said contact members to open position, said ejectorbeing movable in the opposite direction by the movement of said articleto a predetermined operative position to effect a movement of thecontact members to a closed position in engagement with the terminals onsaid article, means for raising and lowering the position of one of saidsupporting members relative to the other to align the contact memberswith respect to the terminals on the articles to be tested, a latchmember for holding said article in its operative position, and means forreleasing said latch from said article to cause the ejection of saidarticle from said holder.

4. A xture for holding an article having terminals and attaching studsextending from one end thereof comprising a supporting means, a holderon said supporting means for supporting an article to be tested and forguiding said article for reciprocable movement, a metal plunger mountedon said supporting means for reciprocable movement and having a pair ofseats engageable with the studs of articles to be tested to establish anelectrical ground connection therewith, one of said seats including amovable abutment member yieldably mounted on said plunger forlimitedmovement relative thereto in the direction of movement of saidarticle, said plunger being movable in one direction in response to apredetermined movement in said direction of said article, resilientmeans for moving said plunger in the opposite direction to eject saidarticle from said supporting means, contact members carried by saidsupporting means and 410 Y stressed for movement from lan open to aclosed position and'engageablein said closed position with terminals-onsaid article, cooperating cam elements on said plunger and contactmembers for moving said contact members to open position in response tomovement of said plunger in vsaid opposite direction to eject saidarticle, 1a latch member for holding said article in its operativeposition,'and means for releasing said latch from said article to causethe ejectionof said article from said holder. v I Y 5. A 'xture forholding articles during the electrical testing thereof comprising asupporting means,'a holder'on said supporting means for supporting an-larticle to be tested andfor guiding said article for' reciprocablemovement, a lU-shaped plunger-mounted for reciprocable movement-in saidsupporting means and having outwardly directed spaced end portionsengageable with the article to be tested and on opposite sides of saidterminals thereof, said plunger being movable Vin one direction inresponse'toa predetermined movement in said one direction of rsaidarticle, contact springs mounted in said supporting means on oppositesides ofthe lll-shaped plunger'and between the spaced end portionsthereof, said contact springs being biased to'move towards Veach otherto a closed position'A Yand being Aengageable in said closed positionwith the terminals on said article, cooperating cam elements on saidplunger and said spring-contacts operable to'moveA said contacts awayfrom eachv other to an open position in response to movement of saidplunger, a spring for moving said plunger in the opposite direction toeject an article from the holder and to effect the movement of saidcontact spring to an open position, a movable member engageable with theend of said article to hold said article against ejection, and anactuator operable to disengage said movable member from said article andcause its ejection from said holder.

6. A iixture for holding articles during the electrical testing thereofcomprising a supporting means, a holder on said supporting means forsupporting an article to be tested and for guiding said article forreciprocable movement, contact members mounted on said supporting meansand stressed for movement to a closed position and engageable in saidclosed position with terminals on said article, a plunger mounted onsaid supporting means in the path of movement of said article andmovable in one direction by a predetermined movement of said article toeffect the movement of said contact members to closed position inengagement with the terminals on said article, spring means for movingsaid plunger in the opposite direction to move said contacts to openposition and to eject said article, a latch for holding the articleagainst movement in said opposite direction, and a member for trippingsaid latch to release said article and cause its ejection.

7. A fixture for holding articles during the electrical testing thereofcomprising supporting means, contact members carried by said supportingmeans and stressed for movement from an open toa closed position andengageable in said closed position with terminals on said article, aplunger mounted on said supporting means for reciprocatory movement andengageable with said article and movable thereby in one direction,resilient means for moving said plunger in the opposite direction, cammeans on said plunger engageable with said contact members for movingeidc'nteetmembers @been rnsitien in response te @lavement in.- seid.meeste direetien essere Planeet guide means 011.1 eeidsuppertine-m for.supporting and guiding:saidarticlefrmov meet tward and away freetsadeentaet mene.- bl'rs, whereby said article niay be moved on said snidemeans to an operative. position to said plinger and eect the engagementof; the contact member with the terminals on said( article, leth meansfor heldne Seid, article inoperative position, and means fordisengagingsaid, late l;A @leerte from Seid article. tener-.mittheplurieerfto eieet Seid eltiele freni. Seid ssnvertine .means-.

it e xture ferheldinsertieles.duringtne elec.- ltipel. testing thereof@@maris/ine.- Supporting Ineens, e helder en Seid-.euepor-tine. means.tor. beleive. en. eltele. beine; tested. andv fengradins Seid articlefer reeipreeeble.. meremermeentaet members meunted 0.1.1 Seidsusmrtingmeansfor Bisi/ement. transversely tothe; reeimteeeble mere meet ef; Sadelitieleeesi eneesealelegwith temi: riale ensei@ article eneieetoreslidehlv:mounted Seid. Supporting: meansA fer: nettement.. in. adireetie Parallel tethereeipteeable movement efsad; article! resilientfor Maisel-said ei'eeter 11.1.0ne dleetieneeieetfan article. from Seid'.helder` Cem elernerltsl` said; elector; for. meting, Seid .Contactmemeere;| transvereely tft-the @lavement ef. Seid eieeterrteenOpenpesitio, A`in response t0 ihefmevementef :Said eieeter. insaid onedirection; said ej ectoig4 being;4 movableV in;V an opposite directionby the moyennant of said article. to: a predetermined; Operative:position means for' moving said contact members to a closed position inengagement with the terminails,` onsaid article in response to themovement in said opposite; direction of said ejector. a pivoted latchmeniberl engageable with the end of said article for holding saidarticle in itsl operative position, cam follower means operable toactuate said latch member, a cam for actuating said cam followermeansand means for eiectng relative movementV between said supportingmeansv and said; cam.

9'. A xture forholding` articles during the electrical. testing thereofcomprising spring pressed. contacts for engaging terminals on anarticle, a. plunger for. moving saidv contacts to inoperativeV positiomresilient' means for actuating saidi plungeig; a locking deviceassociated with said. xture for holding; an articlef inV the fixture;againstY the; action of thef plunger, a tripping: mechanism for'tripping said locking device, inecluding cam means, and means fordisabling said". cam means..

SCOTT V. SMITH..

REFERENCES CITED The followingrreferences are of record inv the: lle ofthis patent:

UNITED v STATES. PATENTS Number Name Date:

1,955,794 Du Mont et al.v Apr. 24', 1934 2,456,548 Weiner Dec. 14E,r1948i

